Pliskova ousts Sabalenka to reach Montreal final
MONTREAL, QC – AUGUST 14: Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic celebrates her victory during her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on Day Six of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers at IGA Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. Karolina Pliskova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-4. Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Karolina Pliskova served 10 aces in a strong effort as she recorded a 6-3, 6-4 victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday to advance to the title match of the National Bank Open in Montreal.
The fourth-seeded Pliskova converted four of eight break points in the 81-minute semifinal clash to reach her third final of the year. The Czech Republic native lost title matches in Rome and at Wimbledon.
Pliskova will face Italy’s Camili Giorgi in the final. Giorgi defeated American Jessica Pegula in the other semi.
“Amazing feeling to be in another final this year,” Pliskova said after the victory. “I think I was super solid today. Just did everything what I was supposed to do to win this match. Played smart. My serve was pretty good, I have to say.”
Sabalenka had five aces but also committed five double faults. Pliskova had two double faults.
Pliskova has now defeated Sabalenka in back-to-back meetings. She also beat her in the Wimbledon semifinals prior to losing to Ashleigh Barty of Australia in the championship match.
“I believed in the things which we were doing in the beginning of the year, and we still keep doing them, so it’s not about winning or losing,” Pliskova said. “But if you still continue doing these things, I believe the results and the success are going to come.”
Giorgi won a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 match over Pegula in two hours, 11 minutes in a battle of unseeded players.
“I’m very happy, because actually today was, I think, a great match, even if the second set maybe I didn’t play my game,” Giorgi said. “I lost a little bit the rhythm. But then I came back and was, I think, a third set, amazing.”
Pegula had been 3-1 against Giorgi coming in.
Giorgi had 27 winners to Pegula’s 14.
“I think now I’m playing better,” Giorgi said. “I know better how to choose the shots. When I need a little bit to slow down (or) accelerate. It’s more variation in my game, I think. This is very important.”
